Conversations With Creatives by Opus Art Supplies

Artist Marcus Bowcott's works combine his landscape painting roots, sculpture, and a good measure of irony and humor. In his works, you'll find reflections of our society's often contradictory relationship with our natural environment. In this Artist To Artist video, he shares with us his thoughts of our theme of the month, "A Greener Practice."

LIVING A GREENER PRACTICE

Artists have long been fascinated by and respectful of the planet we inhabit. Through the creative process, we have the power to promote environmentalism and make green initiatives a priority in cultural conversations. This April, we're diving into the myriad ways that artists can forge meaningful connections with nature and integrate sustainable practices into their artistic pursuits, while exploring diverse perspectives on the interplay between art and environmentalism. How does a connection to nature influence our work? What sustainable practices can we incorporate into our creative process? How can we use our platform as artists to promote environmentalism and inspire others to prioritise sustainability in their work and daily lives?

Living A Creative Life Not all of us make a living selling art, but creativity is essential to everything we do. It can help us navigate the highs and lows of life, constantly bubbling beneath the surface of our thoughts and emotions. So, what can we learn from those who have dedicated their lives to their craft? Take the 80-year-old poet and painter who reflects back on a lifelong "addiction to art." Or the successful illustrator and muralist who confronts male violence towards women, yet didn't embark on her career until the age of 41. And what about the mixed media creator who not only balances her own work with running a community of artists, but who also grapples with the emotional impact of a deeply personal show? She explored her harrowing and unresolved IVF journey in the public domain. Their stories show that there is no one way to define a creative life. Each of us has a unique relationship with our art.

Watch the full series for more at www.opusartsupplies.com

Living A Creative Life Not all of us make a living selling art, but creativity is essential to everything we do. It can help us navigate the highs and lows of life, constantly bubbling beneath the surface of our thoughts and emotions. So, what can we learn from those who have dedicated their lives to their craft? Take the 80-year-old poet and painter who reflects back on a lifelong "addiction to art." Or the successful illustrator and muralist who confronts male violence towards women, yet didn't embark on her career until the age of 41. And what about the mixed media creator who not only balances her own work with running a community of artists, but who also grapples with the emotional impact of a deeply personal show? She explored her harrowing and unresolved IVF journey in the public domain. Their stories show that there is no one way to define a creative life. Each of us has a unique relationship with our art.

Watch the full series for more at www.opusartsupplies.com

Living A Creative Life Not all of us make a living selling art, but creativity is essential to everything we do. It can help us navigate the highs and lows of life, constantly bubbling beneath the surface of our thoughts and emotions. So, what can we learn from those who have dedicated their lives to their craft? Take the 80-year-old poet and painter who reflects back on a lifelong "addiction to art." Or the successful illustrator and muralist who confronts male violence towards women, yet didn't embark on her career until the age of 41. And what about the mixed media creator who not only balances her own work with running a community of artists, but who also grapples with the emotional impact of a deeply personal show? She explored her harrowing and unresolved IVF journey in the public domain. Their stories show that there is no one way to define a creative life. Each of us has a unique relationship with our art.

Watch the full series for more at www.opusartsupplies.com

To start 2023, we want to reflect the untapped year. ‘I Wonder…’ is a conversation starter, opening up the dialogue about art and techniques. It’s an exploration of the creative process, including planning and development, to discover how we continue to renew, experiment and evolve.

Celan Bouillet, Cody Lecoy and Paige Bowman are three artists we asked to consider how they got here and where they are going. What impact do they want to have and how will they achieve this?

Mixed media painter and installation artist Celan Bouillet's upbringing in the American South influenced a love of spinning a good tale, textiles, and fantastical landscapes. At the start of the pandemic in early 2020, she moved to Vancouver with a newborn and three year old. Everything was shut down and we didn't know anyone - I was one of the artists that found it difficult to work. Celan explains how she navigated these trying times and the way they shaped her new collection of large body works, ‘Field Guide to Staying Lost.’

An artist of Syilx (Sailx and Lekwung-en) ancestry, Cody Lecoy was born in Richmond, British Columbia in 1989. Most of his work is acrylic on canvas, using Northwest Coast formal design elements and surreal expressionism to create a visceral response that connects us to the environment. Before coming to art, Cody grappled with where he stood in the world. These days he feels part of a lineage, making work that is informed by shared values. My hope is that the art I make serves to show common ground where people can come together within subjects and concepts that affect all of us within this time period.

Paige Bowman is an illustrator who is constantly inspired by the natural world. Their childhood growing up on the west coast enriched their upbringing with a passion for wildlife and the aesthetic of flora and fauna. It was a period of personal upheaval and artistic disillusionment in 2018, which opened up a new world of experimentation, colour and creative expression. I felt aligned, aligned more with my work than ever before. And I think I've just been kind of coasting off that since. Although they struggled through the pandemic, Paige’s wheels have kicked up again and they share their passion for fostering creativity.

What has your journey looked like and how will you continue to evolve through 2023? We’ll be carrying on the conversation virtually through Artist Talks, where you’ll have the chance to ask your questions to this podcast’s panel, and engage in the dialogue around art and creativity.

Step into the studios of artists participating in the Eastside Culture Crawl. Get into the headspace of preparing for the open studios withLouise Solecki Weir, Girish Chandok, Tess Paul andBrandy Mars!

In this episode, we're further exploring the profound connection and relationship between artists and materials. Our guest artists Rande Cook, Alanna Sparanese, and Renee Nault each speak about their respective connections between art material and creative process. If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a comment! This time, we'd love to hear what materials have opened new doors for you creatively. Was there a branching path in your art practice? What mediums did you use in the past that are the foundation for how you work now? Also, please like, subscribe, and share this Opus Art Supplies podcast with a friend!

In this Conversations with Creatives episode, we'll be discussing the profound connection and relationship between artists and materials. This time we are joined by artists Angela Fehr, Tiko Kerr, and Misako Flodin. We'll hear about the artists' connection to their mediums of choice – watercolour painting, mixed media, and oil pastel, respectively. If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a comment! We'd like to hear what kind of materials you are using in your own art practice. How did you choose your current medium, and how do your materials help you create the work that you want to create? Also, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend!

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Artist Links

@Angela Fehr Watercolour

https://www.angelafehr.com

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Instagram: @angelfehr Tiko Kerr

http://www.tikokerr.com

Instagram: @tikokerr

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@Misako Flodin

https://www.eydear.com

Instagram: @misakoflodin

Shop for art supplies online at Opus Art Supplies: https://opusartsupplies.com/

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Chapters: 0:00 Podcast Intro 1:03 Angela Fehr 10:28 Tiko Kerr 20:53 Misako Flodin 29:48 Podcast Outro

In this final episode of our current series, Conversations with Nature, we're joined by Charlie Easton, Andrea England, Ken Faulks, and D F Gray to discuss how to communicate landscapes in Plein Air.

From a homegrown oasis to the public park, gardens provide the lifeblood to private lives and local communities. In this episode, learn how artists Marney-Rose Edge, Ken Clarke, Paula Barrantes, and Anaïs Lera each employ a unique approach to art in the garden.